Zion Zion, 65, of Bierton Road, Aylesbury, has failed to appear in court over serious sexual assault charges. He is accused of two counts of sexual assault related to an incident that took place on January 7, 2023, in Oxford.
Zion was scheduled to appear at Oxford Crown Court on January 30, 2026, via video link from the Woodlands House mental health unit. However, he refused to attend the hearing. A staff member at the unit confirmed his absence, which led Judge Ian Pringle KC to enter not guilty pleas on Zion’s behalf.
As a result, Zion now faces the charges without legal representation, raising concerns about his level of cooperation with the court process.
Prosecutor Michael Chambers emphasised that the case is of serious public interest and must proceed despite ongoing delays. The British court system is currently experiencing significant backlogs, increasing the likelihood that Zion’s trial will not take place until 2028.
The court has scheduled a further hearing for May 22, 2026, with the intention of setting a firm trial date at that time. However, Zion’s continued absence and lack of communication are complicating the scheduling process.
Originally published by UKNIP.
